Window guard



s WINDLEVIN UARD arch l (Unull EN! y SAM /V ENTO n Unite This inventionrelates to a device of the class cornmonly known as window guards. Sucha device includes a main frame adapted to be mounted at a window, aclosure hinged to the main frame and movable to or from a closedposition, and means carried by the closure and relatively movable intoand out of engagement with the main frame for retaining the closure inclosed position or for releasing it. While usually referred to as awindow guard, a device of this class is adapted for use at any wallopening.

A window guard of the class described ordinarily includes a handle atone side, usually the inner side, for relatively moving the retainingmeans for retaining the closure in closed position or for releasing it.A lock is usually associated with the retaining means or with the handleto lock the retaining means in retaining engagement with the main frame.It is desirable to provide a second handle accessible at the oppositeside, usually the outer side, for moving the retaining means toreleasing position in the event of re or other emergency. One object ofthe invention is to provide an improved construction including a secondhandle, such as last above described, located at the said opposite sideand adapted for moving the retaining means to releasing position.

When a second handle is provided at the said opposite side as abovestated and when a lock is provided, it is necessary for the lock to beso constructed or located that it is accessible at each side for manualunlocking. Another object of the invention is to provide a window guardhaving two oppositely located handles as described and having a lockaccessible at each side.

Other objects of the invention are to provide various details ofconstruction and arrangement whereby the foregoing rnore general objectsare advantageously obtained.

In the drawing I have shown in detail two embodiments of the invention,but it will be understood that various changes may be made from theconstructions shown, and that the drawing is not to be construed asdefining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming apart of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. l is a front view of a window guard embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the window guard asshown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is -a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view similar to Fig. l but showing analternative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongtheline 77 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof,10 is a rectangular main'metallic frame 'ice adapted to be secured inplace at a window or at another wall opening. As shown, the `frame 10comprises angle bars suitably connected at the corners by welding orotherwise. Ordinarily the main frame 10 is located within the windowopening in the wall and is located at the inner side of the windowsashes.

A closure is provided for the area within the main frame 1d, thisclosure including a second rectangular metallic frame 12 of such size asto iit Within the main frame 10. As shown, the frame 12 compriseschannel bars suitably connected at the corners by welding or otherwise.The closure frame 12 is hinged to the main frame 10 at one edge thereof,and as shown it is hinged at the right edge by means of hinges 14, 14.The closure also includes suitable closure material, such as wire mesh18 secured at its edges by welding or otherwise to the closure frame 12.An intermediate reinforcing member is preferably secured to the edgemembers of the closure frame 12 and this may comprise two opposedchannel bars 20, 20 at opposite sides of the mesh 18. The closure hasopposite sides and it is so formed or constructed as to prevent manualaccess therethrough from either side to the other. As stated, theclosure material may include wire mesh such as 18, but the openingsthrough the mesh are not of sufficient size to permit manual accesstherethrough.

Carried by the closure at or near the edge thereof opposite the hinges14, 14 is a retaining means which is relatively movable into and out oflengagement with the main frame 10 for retaining the closure in closedposition or for releasing it. Two manually operable handles are carriedby the closure and are respectively located at and accessible at theopposite sides thereof. These handles are connected with the retainingmeans for moving it into and out of retaining engagement with the frame.The retaining means and the operating handles therefor may be widelyvaried as to details of construction and arrangement. One suitableconstruction and arrangement is shown in Figs. l to 5 and this will nowbe described in detail.

Secured to the left edge member of the closure frame 12 is a verticalplate 22. rl`he wire mesh 18 is cut away to provide space for the plate22 and the edges of the mesh are secured to the said plate as shown inFigs. 3 and 4. A manually operable handle 24 is horizontally pivoted tothe plate 22 at 25, the said handle being near the top of the plate andat the front or inner side thereof. The handle 24 is provided at itsleft end with an extenion 28 which is normally positioned within avertical slot formed in a plate 30 secured to the left edge member ofthemain frame 10. The extension 28 constitutes one portion of thebefore-mentioned retaining means and when entered in the slot in theplate 30 the said extension serves to assist in retaining the closure inclosed position. When the handle 24 is moved to the position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 2, the extension 28 is swung upwardly out of theslot so as to at least partly release the closure.

Pivotally connected with the handle 24 at opposite sides of the pivot 26are rods 32 and 34 which extend respectively upwardly and downwardly.-The upper end of the rod 32 extends through a small plate 36 carried bythe upper member of the closure frame 12 and into an aperture in asimilar small plate 37 on the upper member of the main frame 10.Similarly the lower end of the rod 34 extends through a small plate 38carried by the lower member of the closure frame 12 and into an aperturein a similar small plate 39 on the lower member of the main frame 10.The rods 32 and 34 cooperate with the handle extension 28 to constitutethe said retaining means for the closure. When the parts are in therelative positions shown in Fig. l, the handle extension 28, the upperend of the rod 32, and the lower end of the rod 34 all cooperate toretain the closure in closed position. When the handle is moved to theposition shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the handle extension 28 ismoved out of the slot in the plate 3i) as previously stated and the rods32 and 34 are moved respectively downwardly and upwardly so as towithdraw their end portions from engagement with the small plates 37 and39 on the main frame. Thus the closure is released so that it can beswung on the hinges 14, 14.

A manually operable handle 40 is horizontally pivote to the `plate 22 at42, the said handle being substantially spaced downwardly from thehandle 24 and being at the opposite or rear side of the said plate 22. Alink 44 is provided having its lower end pivotally connected at 46 withthe handle 4t), the last said pivotal connection being `at the left ofthe pivotal connection d2. The upper end portion of the link 44 is bentforwardly and extends through an arcuate slot 48 in the plate 22. Theforwardly extending portion of the link 44 is pivotally connected withthe handle 24, a common pivotal connection being provided for the upperend of the link i4 and the upper end of the rod 34.

`As has been pointed out, the handles 24 and 40 are at opposite sides ofthe closure. The handle 24 is accessible only at the front or inner sideand the handle 40 is accessible only at the rear or outer side. Thehandle 24 is adapted to serve for relatively moving the retaining meansas described and the said handle 46 is also adapted for relativelymoving the retaining means in the same manner.

The handle 40 is preferably at a considerably lower level than thehandle 24. The handle 24 is positioned for convenient operation from theinside of a building and this is the handle which is normally used. Inthe 'event of a lire or other emergency the handle 40 may be used foroperating the retaining means and the position of this handle at a lowerlevel makes it possible for the said handle to be more readily reachedfrom a ladder at the outside of the building.

A manually operable lock is provided which has a single operating meansand which normally serves to lock the retaining means in retainingengagement with the main frame and this lock is so constructed andarranged that the operating means thereof is accessible at each side ofthe closure for manual unlocking so as to release the retaining meansfor movement by either handle out or its said retaining engagement withthe main frame. This lock and the parts associated therewith may bevariously constructed and arranged. One suitable construction andarrangement is shown in Figs. l, 2, and 5 and this will be described indetail.

Carried by the closure and preferably by the plate 22 is a relativelymovable member, this member being connected for movement with theretaining means and with the handles. Preferably the said member is anintegral downward extension 50 on the handle 40, this being locatedimmediately adjacent the plate 22 and at the rear or outer side thereof.The said member or extension is movable in parallelism with the face ofthe plate. The plate 22 and the extension or member 50 are providedrespectively with apertures 52 and 54 which are in register with eachother when the retaining means is in its frame engaging position asshown. The plate 22 is .provided with a small opening 56 immediatelybelow the apertures 52 and 54 and of such size as to Vbe adapted toreceive the body 58 of a padlock. The shackle 60 of the padlock extendsthrough the apertures 52 and 54 and serves to prevent relative movementof the member 50, thus serving to prevent movement of the retainingmeans out of its main frame engaging position. The padlock body 53 mayhave the usual keyway in its lower end for receiving a key, and uponmanipulation of the key one leg of the shackle is released in the usualmanner. The key and the lock parts associated with the keyway constitutethe said single operating means for the lock.

The opening 56 is of suicient depth to permit the padlockbody 5S to movedownwardly relatively to the shackle 66 upon unlocking. For a reasonhereinafter stated, the apertures S2 and 54 are slots substantiallyperpendicular to the adjacent edge of the opening 56. The said slotshave lengths greater than the major transverse dimension of the padlockshackle 60.

It will be observed that the operating means of the padlock isaccessible at each side of the closure. For unlocking, the padlock canbe swung toward the front or toward the rear as indicated respectivelyat 58a and 58b in Fig. 5.

If it be assumed that the padlock is in position 58a at the front andthat the shackle 60 is released at the front of the body 58 uponunlocking, the said shackle after release can be pushed rearwardlythrough the slots 52 and S4 and then moved downwardly and withdrawnforwardly through the opening 56, as indicated at SSC. lf it be assumedthat the padlock is in position 58b at the rear and that the shackle 6i)is released at the front of the body 53 upon unlocking, the said`shackle after release can be pushed forwardly through the slots 52 and54 and then moved upwardly and wtihdrawn rearwardly through the saidslots as indicated at 58d in Fig. 5. The described lengths of the slots52 and 54 make it possible for the padlock to be moved to position 58d.

Figs. 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of the invention, whereinthe main frame and the closure are or may be substantially as previouslydescribed. The main frame is shown at 62 and the closure frame is shownat 64. l'n lieu of the plate 22 a similar but smaller plate 66 isprovided. Horizontally movable in at least one guide 70 on the front ofthe plate 66 is a bar 72. The left portion of the bar '72 extendsthrough an aperture in a small plate 73 on the closure frame 64, thesaid plate serving as a supplemental guide. The bar 72 normally projectsthrough an aperture in a small plate 74 on the main frame 62. The saidbar 72 constitutes means carried by the closure and relatively movableinto and out of engagement with the main frame for retaining the closurein closed position or for releasing it.

Carried by the bar 72 at the front thereof is a handle 76 adapted forrelatively moving the said bar into and out of engagement with the mainframe. A similar handle 78 is carried by the bar 72 at the rear thereof,this last said handle projecting through a horizontal slot 79 in theplate 66. The handle 78 is also adapted for relatively moving the saidbar into and out of engagement with the main frame.

Carried by the bar 72 and movable with it is a member 80 correspondingin function with the member 50. The member 80 is adjacent the plate 66and at the front thereof. The member 80 and the plate 66 are providedrespectively with slots 82 and 84 which are similar to the slots 52 and54 and which are in register with each other when the retaining means orbar 72 is in its frame engaging position as shown. The plate 66 isprovided with an opening 86 similar to the opening 56 and immediatelybelow the slots 82 and 84, the said opening 86 being of such size as tobe adapted to receive a padlock body such as 58. The shackle 60 of thepadlock extends through the slots 82 and 84 and serves to preventrelative movement of the member 80, thus serving to prevent relativemovement of the retaining means or bar 72 out of its main frame engagingposition.

The padlock as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 functions exactly as previouslydescribed and repetition of the description is unnecessary.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure having oppositesides and hinged to the y frame so as to be movable to and from a closedposition ried by the closure and relatively movable into and out ofengagement with the frame for retaining the closure in closed positionor for releasing it, two manually operable handles carried by theclosure and respectively located at the said opposite sides thereof bothof which handles are connected with the retaining means for moving thelatter into and out of retaining engagement with the frame upon movementof either handle, one of the said handles being located at andaccessible at one side of the closure and the other of the said handlesbeing located at and accessible at the other side of the closure, and alock normally serving to lock the retaining means in retainingengagement with the frame which lock has a single operating means thatis accessible at each side of the closure for effecting manual unlockingso as to release the retaining means for movement by either handle outof its said retaining engagement.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure having oppositesides and hinged to the frame so as to be movable to and from a closedposition which closure is constructed to prevent manual accesstherethrough from either side to the other, means carried by the closureand relatively movable into and out of engagement with the frame forretaining the closure in closed position or for releasing it, twomanually operable handles carried by the closure and respectivelylocated at the said opposite sides thereof both of which handles areconnected with the retainingmeans for moving the latter into and out ofretaining engagement with the frame upon movement of either handle, oneof the said handles being located at and accessible at one side of theclosure and the other of the said handles being located at andaccessible at the other side of the closure, and a lock normallyconnected with one handle and normally serving to lock the last saidhandle and thereby lock the retaining means in retaining engagement withthe frame which lock has a single operating means that is accessible ateach side of the closure for effecting manual unlocking so as to releasethe last said handle and thus release the retaining means for movementby either handle out of its said retaining engagement.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure having oppositesides and hinged to the frame so as to be movable to and trom a closedposition which closure is constructed to prevent manual accesstherethrough rom either side to the other, means carried by the closureand relatively movable into and out of engagement with the frame forretaining the closure in closed position and tor releasing it, twomanually operable handles carried by the closure and respectivelylocated at the said opposite sides thereof both of which handles areconnected with the retaining means for moving the latter out ofretaining engagement with the frame upon movement of either handle, oneof said handles being located at and accessible at one side of theclosure and the other of said handles being located at and accessible atthe other side of the closure, a movable member on the closure at saidone side thereof and connected to said one handle and movable inparallelism with said one side of the closure, and a lock normallyconnected with said movable member and normally serving to lock saidmovable member and said one handle and thereby lock the retaining meansin retaining engagement with the frame which lock has a single operatingmeans that is accessible at each side of the closure for eecting manualunlocking so as to release the said movable member and thus release saidone handle and the retaining means for movement of the retaining meansfrom retaining engagement with the frame.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure having oppositesides and hinged to the frame so as to be movable to and from a closedposition which closure has a small opening therein but is neverthelessconstructed to prevent manual access through the closure from one sideto the other, means carried by the closure and relatively movable intoand out of engagement with the frame for retaining the closure in closedposition or for releasing it, two manually operable handles carried bythe closure and respectively located at the said opposite sides thereofboth of which handles are connected with the retaining means for movingthe latter into and out of retaining engagement with the frame uponmovement of either handle, one of the said handles being located at andaccessible at one side of the closure and the other of said handlesbeing located at and accessible at the other side of the closure, amovable member on the closure at one side thereof and connected forrelative movement in unison with the retaining means which member isadjacent the said closure opening and is movable in parallelism with thelast said closure side, and a manually operable padlock normallyengaging the said member to lock it against relative movement and tothereby lock the retaining means in retaining engagement with the frame,the said padlock being in the said closure `opening and being therebyaccessible at each side of the closure for manual unlocking so as torelease the said member and to thereby release the retaining means formovement by either handle out of its said retaining engagement.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure having oppositesides and hinged to the frame so as to be movable to and from a closedposition which closure has a small padlock receiving opening therein andalso has an aperture therein adjacent the said opening, the said closurenotwithstanding the said opening and aperture being constructed toprevent manual access through the closure from either side thereof tothe other, means carried by the closure and relatively movable into andout of a frame engaging position for retaining the closure in closedposition or for releasing it, two manually operable handles carried bythe closure and respectively located at the said opposite sides thereofboth of which handles are connected with the retaining means for movingthe latter into and out or" retaining engagement with the frame uponmovement of either handle, one of the said handles being located at andaccessible at one side of the closure and the other of the said handlesbeing located at and accessible at the other side of the closure, and amovable member on the closure at one side thereof and connected forrelative movement in unison with the retaining means which member isadjacent the said closure opening and is movable in parallelism with thelast said closure side, the said member having an aperture thereinpositioned to register with the said aperture in the closure when themember is in the position corresponding to the frame engaging positionof the retaining means, the said apertures in the closure and in themovable member when in register being adapted for receiving the shackleof a padlock which has its body in the said closure opening and which isaccessible at each side of the closure for unlocking.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the apertures in theclosure and in the movable member are slots substantially perpendicularto the adjacent edge of the closure opening and having lengths greaterthan the major transverse dimension of the padlock shackle.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure having oppositesides and hinged to the frame so as to be movable to and from a closedposition which closure is constructed to prevent manual accesstherethrough from either side to the other, means carried by the closureand relatively movable into and out of a frame engaging position forretaining the closure in closed position or for releasing it, a manuallyoperable pivoted handle carried by the closure at one side thereof andconnected with the retaining means for moving the latter into and out ofretaining engagement with the frame, a second manually operable pivotedhandle carried by the closure at the opposite side thereof and at adifferent level, a link connecting the two handles for enabling thesecond handle to move the retaining means into and out of retainingengagement with the frame, and a lock normally serving to lock theretaining means in retaining engagement with the frame which lock has asingle operating means that is accessible at each side of the closurefor effecting manual unlocking so as to release the retaining means formovement by either handle out of its said retaining engagement.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure having oppositesides and hinged to the frame so as tobe movable to and from a closedposition which closure is constructed to prevent manual accesstherethrough from either side to the other, means carried by the closureand relatively movable into and out of a frame engaging position forretaining the closure in closed position or for releasing it, a manuallyoperable pivoted handle carried by the closure at one side thereof andconnected with the retaining means for moving the latter into and out ofretaining engagement with the frame, a second manually operable pivotedhandle carried by the closure at the opposite side thereof and at adifferent level, a link connecting the two handles for enabling thesecond handle to move the retaining means into and out of retainingengagement with the frame, and a lock normally connected with one handleand normally serving to lock the last said handle and thereby lock theretaining means in retaining engagement with the frame which lock has asingle operating means that is accessible at each side of the closurefor efecting manual unlocking so as to release the last said handle andthus release the retaining means for movement by either handle out ofits said retaining engagement.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure having oppositesides and hinged to the frame so as to be movable to and from a closedposition which closure has a small opening therein but is neverthelessconstructed to prevent manual access through the closure from one sideto the other, means carried by the closure and relatively movable intoand out of a frame A,

handle is connected with the retaining means for moving the latter intoand out of retaining engagement with the frame, a second manuallyoperable pivoted handle carried by the closure at the opposite sidethereof and at a lower level adjacent the said closure opening, a linkconnecting the two handles for enabling the second handle to move theretaining means into and out of retaining engagement with the frame, amember pivotally movable in unison with the second handle, and amanually operable padlock normally engaging the said member to lock itagainst pivotal movement and to thereby lock the retaining means inretaining engagement with the frame, the said padlock being in the saidclosure opening and being thereby accessible at each side of the closurefor manual unlocking so as to release the said member and to therebyrelease the retaining means for movement by either handle out of itssaid retaining engagement.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure having oppositesides and hinged to the frame so as to be movable to and from a closedposition which closure has a small padlock receiving opening thereinarreso and also has an aperture therein adjacent the said opening, thesaid closure notwithstanding the saidopening and aperture beingconstructed to prevent manual access through the closure from eitherside thereof to the other, means carried by the closure and relativelymovable into and out of a frame engaging position for retaining theclosure in closed position or for releasing it, a manually operablepivoted handle carried by the closure at one side thereof and spacedsubstantially above the closure opening which handle is connected withthe retaining means for moving the latter into and out of retainingengagement with the frame, a second manually operable pivoted handlecarried by the closure at the opposite side thereof and at a lower leveladjacent the said closure opening, a link connecting the two handles forenabling the second handle to move the retaining means into and out ofretaining engagement with the frame, and a movable member on the closureconnected with the second handle for movement therewith which saidmember has an aperture therein positioned to register with the saidaperture in the closure when the member is in the position correspondingto the frame engaging position of the retaining means, the saidapertures in the closure and in the movable member when in registerbeing adapted for receiving the shackle of a padlock having its body inthe said closure opening and accessible at each side of the closure forunlocking.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a main frameadapted to be mounted at a window or the like, a closure comprising asecond frame hinged at one edge thereof to the main frame and movable toand from a closed position and also comprising a metal plate secured tothe second frame at the edge thereof opposite the hinged edge andfurther comprising a wire mesh connected with the second frame and withthe said plate and serving in cooperation with the plate to cover thearea within the second frame, the said plate having an opening in itslower portion of such size as to be adapted to receive the body of apadlock and also having an aperture therein adjacent the said opening,means carried by the closure and relatively movable into and out of aframe engaging position for retaining the closure in closed position orfor releasing it, a manuaily operable pivoted handle carried by the saidplate at one side thereof and near the top which handle is connectedwith the retaining means for moving the latter into and out of retainingengagement with the frame, a second manually operable pivoted handlecarried by the said plate at the opposite side thereof and adjacent thesaid plate opening, a link connecting the two handles for enabling thesecond handle to move the retaining means into and out of retainingengagement with the frame, and a movable member on the closure connectedwith the second handle for movement therewith which said member has anaperture therein positioned to register with the said aperture in theplate when the mem-V ber is in the position corresponding to the frameengaging position of the retaining means, the said apertures in theplate and in the movable member when in register being adapted forreceiving the shackle of a padlock having its body in the said plateopening and accessible at each side of the closure for unlocking.

` References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,215,293- Law Sept. 17, 1940 2,556,361 Coleman Iune 12, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS 222,284 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1924 802,731 France Sept. 14, 1936

